Scene & Heard: Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards
Except for the cocktail dresses, the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards had a distinctly relaxed quality. So much so that before the evening ended, host Debra Messing removed her shoes.
“I had to do it,” she declared from the podium, her red-heeled Louboutins dangling from one hand.
On ascending the stage, Emily Blunt followed suit. True to the event name, this was “A New Era.”
Blunt presented the Crystal Award to Universal Pictures Co-Chairman Donna Langley; Laura Dern gave Courteney Cox the Lucy Award, named for industry icon Lucille Ball; and Nicola Maramotti of MaxMara honored Zoe Saldana as the “Face of the Future.”
The June 1 fundraiser also honored cinematographer Cynthia Pusheck and director Lisa Cholodenko, and attracted 900 high-powered guests to the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel. They included presenters Sally Field and Rachel Griffiths; Vanessa Hudgens, who introduced screen legend Eva Marie Saint; Women in Film President Jane Fleming and outgoing WIF foundation Chairwoman Sharon Lawrence; and actors Jennifer Aniston, David Arquette, Nikki Reed, Maggie Grace, Busy Philipps and Leslie Mann; as well as director Judd Apatow, who came to cheer the award recipients.
WIF helps women in the entertainment industry through contacts, services and programs in education, funding, employment access and other areas.
Cool and Hot
At “Cool Comedy, Hot Cuisine,” the May 25 benefit for the Scleroderma Research Foundation, host Bob Saget said to expect “inappropriate” humor. And the night’s performers took the cue.
During his routine, Craig Ferguson — a self-proclaimed “big cusser” — noted that while some audiences don’t appreciate swear words, “with Bob, it’s almost compulsory.”
The comedy lineup at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel also featured Sarah Silverman, B.J. Novak and Ray Romano, with Bill Bellamy and Dana Delany presenting a live auction. Jeff Garlin, executive producer of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” took a turn onstage too.
“The whole point of the evening is to laugh,” said Saget, whose sister died of the disease and who has spearheaded similar benefits ever since. Is it hard to recruit talent? “I sent e-mails and everyone said yes,” he said.
In the audience were research foundation Chairman Luke Evnin; Paramount Chief Executive Brad Grey; Hope Dworaczyk, Playboy’s first 3-D centerfold; and Jeremy Piven, Jerry Ferrara and Kevin Connolly of “Entourage.” Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, TV’s “Too Hot Tamales,” provided the “hot cuisine.”
Ring opener
In celebration of the “Ring,” L.A. Opera’s Chairman Marc Stern proposed a toast to controversy, and partygoers raised their glasses with enthusiasm. The May 29 soiree followed opening night of “Das Rheingold,” the first installment in Richard Wagner’s four- opera epic.
“There’s no neutral ground,” Stern said, expressing happiness for all the passion shown toward the towering production. “It’s absolutely wonderful. Nobody is bored.”
He also delivered kudos to Barry Sanders, “leader” of the Ring Festival L.A, for uniting L.A.’s art world “around — of all things — classical music.”
Conductor James Conlon, director-designer Achim Freyer and the cast joined the festivities, alongside Barbara and Dr. Armin Sadoff and Margaret and David Barry, underwriters of the evening’s production, and other “Friends of the Ring,” who helped fund the cycle.
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